EXLCOM: X-Com Re-Implemented in Excel | Hacker News Reader

EXLCOM: X-Com Re-Implemented in Excel

exlcom.jimdo.com

49 pointssdenton410 comments

Awesome attempt. It has a lot of detail.

Also a great illustration that building stuff for lots of other people in VBA isn't a good idea, because it can vary so much depending on environment: I got a bunch of macro errors, and it was possible to drag stuff I think shouldn't be draggable. It also removed my menu bar the next time I started it (which then came back on the next Excel start). Excel 2010 on Win 8.1, Chinese language version (14.0.7153.5000 32-Bit).

But I do love VBA as a veritable Swiss Army Knife installed in every office PC around the world, able to script stuff. For yourself. Anything complex will break completely unexpectedly.

But great effort, I'm sure your VBA is much advanced.

(Why are there no screenshots on the landing page? Why are the screenshots hidden away on other pages hosted on imgur with links you have to click to view them? Basic marketing 101 ;) )

There are screenshots on the second page of the menu [1] and directly on the page.

I do agree that putting them on the front page would have made a better experience.

[1]: http://exlcom.jimdo.com/about-exlcom/

This seems like the kind of thing that might draw more interest via Patreon than purchases, especially with the promise of semi-regular updates to keep some buzz going around about "the Excel XCOM guy".

Patreon is an interesting idea for projects like this. The issue I have is that Patreon is currently viewed as something where you pay $x/mo and get regular substantial updates (comics, art, etc). I'm not sure OP could deliver enough monthly value to justify a Patreon subscription.

Patreon also has an $X/update model (which you can cap at $Y/mo as a patron if you want), which fits rather nicely for niche products as long as the creator can avoid the perception of padding out updates.

I guess this won't work in OpenOffice.

Does it use actual TP, or the dumbed down 2-turn system of Firaxis' "reimagining"?

There are aspects of the Firaxis versions that could be accurately described as dumbed down (mostly the unrealistic LoF, resulting in all-or-nothing cover mechanic and no FF or multiple enemy hits possible). But IMO, the new turn system is an improvement over the original, it's a good balance between tactics options and accessibility.

the latest version which just came out last week is very good. While the two turn system still exist there are many modifiers which can alter how that plays out. Characters have special abilities and such that can make some shots not impact moving or be impacted by use of moves.

throw in a fully procedural environment, as in levels are generated and not just canned, new mobs with all sorts of interesting powers, and its a good "reimaging", very similar to how Terror from the Deep expanded and energized the franchise

I've a good mind to port this to LibreOffice :-)

Or even use it to test out VBA compatibility!

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